Reel handling machine

Abstract

A reel handling machine includes first and second re-reeling assemblies coupled to a frame. The re-reeling assemblies each include a reel mount supporting a first reel and a re-reel mount supporting a second reel. The re-reeling assemblies operated to unwind a product strip from the first reel and rewind the product strip on the second reel. The reel handling machine includes a reel manipulator positioned proximate to the re-reeling assemblies configured to automatically remove the second reel from the re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the second reel and move the second reel to a remote location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reel handling machine comprising:
 a frame; 
 a first re-reeling assembly coupled to the frame, the first re-reeling assembly including a first reel mount and a first re-reel mount, the first reel mount configured to support a first reel, the first re-reel mount configured to support a second reel, the first re-reeling assembly operated to unwind a product strip from the first reel and rewind the product strip on the second reel in an opposite wind direction from the first reel; 
 a second re-reeling assembly coupled to the frame, the second re-reeling assembly including a second reel mount and a second re-reel mount, the second reel mount configured to support a third reel, the second re-reel mount configured to support a fourth reel, the second re-reeling assembly operated to unwind a product strip from the third reel and rewind the product strip on the fourth reel in an opposite wind direction from the third reel; and 
 a reel manipulator positioned proximate to the first and second re-reeling assemblies, the reel manipulator configured to automatically remove the second reel from the first re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the second reel and move the second reel to a remote location, the reel manipulator configured to automatically remove the fourth reel from the second re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the fourth reel and move the fourth reel to a remote location. 
 
     
     
       2. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first re-reeling assembly is slidably coupled to the frame and movable between a loading position and a winding position, the first and second reels being loaded onto the first reel mount and the first re-reel mount, respectively, at the loading position, the product strip being unwound from the first reel and being wound onto the second reel at the winding position, and wherein the second re-reeling assembly is slidably coupled to the frame and movable between a loading position and a winding position, the third and fourth reels being loaded onto the second reel mount and the second re-reel mount, respectively, at the loading position, the product strip being unwound from the third reel and being wound onto the fourth reel at the winding position. 
     
     
       3. The reel handling machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first re-reeling assembly is slidable relative to the frame independent from the second re-reeling assembly. 
     
     
       4. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first re-reel mount includes a shaft and a hub rotatably coupled to the shaft, a side of the second reel being coupled to the hub. 
     
     
       5. The reel handling machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first re-reel mount includes a drive mechanism configured to rotate the hub to rotate the second reel to rewind the product strip onto the second reel. 
     
     
       6. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel taping mechanism coupled to the frame, the reel taping mechanism having a tape applicator configured to apply tape across flanges of the second reel when presented to the tape applicator by the reel manipulator, the tape applicator configured to apply tape across flanges of the fourth reel when presented to the tape applicator by the reel manipulator. 
     
     
       7. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel labeling mechanism coupled to the frame, the reel labeling mechanism having a label applicator configured to apply a label to a side of the second reel when presented to the label applicator by the reel manipulator, the label applicator configured to apply a label to a side of the fourth reel when presented to the label applicator by the reel manipulator. 
     
     
       8. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a product strip detector located proximate to the first re-reeling assembly to monitor the product strip between the first reel mount and the first re-reel mount, the rewinding process being automatically controlled based on input from the product strip detector. 
     
     
       9. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive unit located proximate to the first re-reeling assembly to apply adhesive to a paper interleaf at an end of the product strip of the first re-reeling assembly. 
     
     
       10. The reel handling machine of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive unit includes a dispenser being variably positionable relative to the first re-reel mount. 
     
     
       11. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first re-reeling assembly includes guide rollers between the first reel mount and the first re-reel mount to guide the product strip of the first re-reeling assembly therebetween. 
     
     
       12. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the reel manipulator is coupled to the frame in a fixed location relative to the frame, the reel manipulator including a robotic arm movable in three-dimensional space relative to the fixed location. 
     
     
       13. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel stack supported by the frame, the reel manipulator configured to move the second reel to the reel stack to drop off the second reel at the reel stack. 
     
     
       14. The reel handling machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a third re-reeling assembly coupled to the frame, the third re-reeling assembly including a third reel mount and a third re-reel mount, the third reel mount configured to support a fifth reel, the third re-reel mount configured to support a sixth reel, the third re-reeling assembly operated to unwind a product strip from the fifth reel and rewind the product strip on the sixth reel. 
     
     
       15. A reel handling machine comprising:
 a frame; 
 a re-reeling assembly coupled to the frame, the re-reeling assembly including a reel mount and a re-reel mount, the reel mount configured to support a first reel, the re-reel mount configured to support a second reel, the re-reeling assembly operated to unwind a product strip from the first reel and rewind the product strip on the second reel; 
 a reel manipulator positioned proximate to the re-reeling assembly, the reel manipulator configured to automatically remove the second reel from the re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the second reel and move the second reel to a remote location; 
 a reel taping mechanism coupled to the frame, the reel taping mechanism having a tape applicator configured to apply tape across flanges of the second reel, wherein the reel manipulator positions the second reel at the reel taping mechanism while the tape is applied across the flanges of the second reel. 
 
     
     
       16. The reel handling machine of  claim 15 , wherein the reel manipulator is configured to rotate the second reel relative to the tape applicator to apply the tape to different sections of the second reel. 
     
     
       17. The reel handling machine of  claim 15 , wherein the tape applicator applies multiple segments of the tape to the second reel. 
     
     
       18. A reel handling machine comprising:
 a frame; 
 a re-reeling assembly coupled to the frame, the re-reeling assembly including a reel mount and a re-reel mount, the reel mount configured to support a first reel, the re-reel mount configured to support a second reel, the re-reeling assembly operated to unwind a product strip from the first reel and rewind the product strip on the second reel; 
 a reel manipulator positioned proximate to the re-reeling assembly, the reel manipulator configured to automatically remove the second reel from the re-reel mount after the product strip is rewound on the second reel and move the second reel to a remote location; 
 a reel labeling mechanism coupled to the frame, the reel labeling mechanism having a label applicator configured to apply a label to a side of the second reel, wherein the reel manipulator positions the second reel at the reel labeling mechanism while the label is applied to the side of the second reel. 
 
     
     
       19. The reel handling machine of  claim 18 , further comprising a vision system imaging the second reel, the label applicator applying the label to the side of the second reel based on an image of the second reel. 
     
     
       20. The reel handling machine of  claim 18 , wherein the reel manipulator is configured to rotate the second reel relative to the label applicator to position the second reel at a predetermined angular position relative to the label applicator for application of the label to the side of the second reel.